Work data collection method

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a work data collection method. In a darkroom, a data collector ( 12 ) photographs a series of jobs through an infrared video camera ( 14 ) while observing the jobs being done by a worker ( 11 ) through a darkroom goggle. At each break point between the jobs, the data collector operates a hand switch board ( 21 ) to enter a break point signal and select a corresponding job title from among a list of job titles displayed on an LCD device ( 15 ) that the data collector puts on behind the darkroom goggle. Then, the break point signal and job title data are recorded in association with each other on a hard disc of a portable personal computer ( 20 ). If the corresponding job title is not listed, the data collector says that job title to enter it as a sound signal through a microphone. The sound signal is converted into character data of the job title. Video signal of the jobs, the break point signals and the job title data are transferred to a personal computer ( 25 ), to be processed for the sake of analysis and examination.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/822,495filed Apr. 2, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a work data collection method, by whichdata on working conditions, especially data of workload on the worker,may be collected either in a light room or in a darkroom, and more maybe collected.

2. Background Arts

It is conventional to collect data on the existing working conditions ina workplace, to make analysis based on the work data for the sake ofimproving work efficiency. A lot of methods have been developed forcollecting the work data. The most primitive method is handwriting thework data on a note book, and thereafter inputting the work data in adata processing computer with reference to the note book. This method isapparently inefficient.

As a recent work data collection method, a data collector uses a barcode sheet having bar codes representative of job titles printedthereon, and reads a job title by scanning a corresponding one of thebar codes through a handy bar code reader at the start of acorresponding job in a workplace. At the end of that job, the datacollector scans one of the bar codes that represents an end of job. Thebar code reader has a clock and a memory incorporated therein, so thetime when the bar code of the job title is scanned is recorded as a jobstart time on the memory, and the time when the bar code of the job endis scanned is recorded as a job end time on the memory. The datacollector repeats scanning the bar codes at the start and end of eachjob in the same way, to record the job titles and the start and endtimes of the respective jobs in the memory of the bar code reader.

After collecting the work data in the workplace, the bar code reader isconnected to a personal computer, to transfer the work data from thememory of the bar code reader to the personal computer. On the personalcomputer, the work data is monitored and, if necessary, corrected, orsome data is added to the work data. Then, the work data is processedand analyzed for displaying results of analysis in the form of tablesand graphs on the personal computer. If necessary, the results areprinted out as hard copies.

On the other hand, there is a device for collecting and storing data ofa biological factor of a person through a specific sensor, hereinaftercalled a biological sensor, continuously or at regular intervals. Thisbiological data collecting device has often been used for collectingbiological data in examining a training program for an athlete. In thatcase, the biological sensors are put on the athlete's body while theathlete is exercising according to the training program. After theathlete works out the training program, the biological data collectingdevice is connected to a personal computer, to transfer the storedbiological data to the personal computer. On the personal computer, thebiological data is statistically processed to analyze loads on theathlete during the exercise on the basis of a change of the biologicalfactor with the time and other data like this.

The above described work data collection methods are usable for thosecases where the jobs are done in a light room. But where the jobs aredone in a darkroom, e.g. on dealing with photographic film, the abovedescribed work data collection methods are inconvenient. Becausedarkroom glasses or goggles are needed for observation in the darkroom,and the darkroom goggles make it hard to see things in hand clearly, itis difficult to scan the bar code on the bar code sheet or read the timeon a wrist watch in the darkroom. Also because any apparatus that emitslight is not allowed in the darkroom, neither personal computer with aback-lit display panel nor any kinds of lighting devices are usable forwork data collection in the darkroom.

The above described biological data collection method may be applicableto collecting biological data from the worker as data representative ofworkload on the worker during the jobs, because the workload affectswork efficiency. However, this idea has not yet been incarnated but in atentative stage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is toprovide a work data collection method that is applicable to collectingwork data in the darkroom as well as in the light room.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a work datacollection method by which workload data is collectable.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a work data collectionmethod comprises the steps of photographing through a video camera aseries of different jobs done by at least a worker, to record videosignal of the jobs on a memory device of the video camera; and inputtinga break point signal in the video camera at each break point between thejobs, to record the break point signal on the memory device along withthe video signal. The video signal and the break point signal may betransferred from the memory device of the video camera to a personalcomputer afterward.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a work datacollection method comprises the steps of photographing a series ofdifferent jobs done by at least a worker through a video camera, to takea video signal of the jobs; recording the video signal on a memorydevice through a personal computer; and inputting a break point signalin the personal computer at each break point between the jobs, to recordthe break point signal on the memory device along with the video signal.

Since the break point signal is recorded along with the video signal ofthe jobs, it is easy to search the break points between the jobs, i.e.cue up the video signal at each break point, by use of the break pointsignal. Using an infrared video camera as the video camera makes itpossible to collect work data of those jobs done in a darkroom.

By measuring workload on the worker during at least one of the jobs; andrecording the workload data on a memory device in association with thevideo signal and the break point signal, it becomes easy to provide dataof the workloads during the respective jobs and examine the relationshipbetween the workload and the contents or sequences of the jobs.

By measuring environmental factors around the worker during at least oneof the jobs and recording data of the environmental factors on a memorydevice in association with the video signal and the break point signal,it becomes easy to provide data of the work environments and use it forimproving the work environments.

It is preferable to input job title data in the video camera or thepersonal computer concurrently with the break point signal, to recordthe job title data on the memory device in association with the breakpoint signal, the job title data being representative of a job titlepredetermined for each of the jobs.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a work data collectionmethod comprises the steps of displaying predetermined job titles on adisplay device connected to a personal computer, the display devicebeing visible for a data collector while observing a series of differentjobs done by at least a worker; selecting one of the displayed jobtitles through an input device connected to the personal computer, toenter job title data representative of the selected job title in thepersonal computer at each break point between the jobs; and recordingthe job title data on a memory device of the personal computer, alongwith data of time when the job title data is entered. Thereby, the jobtitle data may be entered in the personal computer without the need fora video camera or a microphone.

According to still another aspect of the invention, a work datacollection method comprising the steps of entering a job title as asound signal through a microphone connected to a sound recording playerhaving a clock function and a display section, at each break pointbetween different jobs while the jobs are being sequentially done by atleast a worker; recording the sound signal of the job title on a memorydevice of the sound recording player, along with data of an entrancetime when the sound signal is entered, the entrance time beingdetermined by the clock function of the sound recording player; andplaying back a sound of the job title on the sound recording player,while displaying the entrance time of the played back job title on thedisplay section. This method may be accomplished without bringing avideo camera or a personal computer into the workplace.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a work data collectionmethod comprises the steps of measuring time taken to accomplish eachone of different jobs while the jobs are being sequentially done by atleast a worker; measuring workload on the worker during each of saidjobs; and recording data of the measured time and workload for each ofthe different jobs on a memory device. This method makes it possible toanalyze the relationship between the work time and the workload, withoutthe need for bringing a video camera or a personal computer into theworkplace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments when read in association with the accompanying drawings,which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitingthe present invention. In the drawings, like reference numeralsdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a work data collectionmethod using a video camera and a portable personal computer, accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a data collection sequence for thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second embodiment of thepresent invention, where a worker doubles as a data collector;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another embodiment of thepresent invention, where a data collector rides on a small car;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a further embodiment ofthe present invention, using a portable personal computer;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another embodiment of thepresent invention, using a sound recording player;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of bar codesheet for use in entering times;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating still another embodimentof the present invention, using a portable personal computer;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a further embodiment ofthe present invention, for measuring workload on a worker;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a data collection sequence for theembodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating changes in worker's temperature withtime during the same job under different degree of restrictions on time;

FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating changes in worker's temperature withtime on different kinds of jobs;

FIG. 13 is a Pareto diagram illustrating how much the time restrictionhas influence on the workload with respect to the different kinds ofjobs;

FIG. 14 is a Pareto diagram illustrating degrees of workloads withrespect to the different kinds of jobs;

FIG. 15 is a Gantt chart illustrating time-sequences of jobssequentially done by three workers in a limited time period, whileranking the jobs according the degree of influence of the timerestriction on the workload;

FIG. 16 is a Gantt chart illustrating time-sequences of jobssequentially done by three workers in a limited time period, whileranking the jobs according to the degree of workload that is measured byhow long the worker should look in high illuminant objects;

FIG. 17 is a Gantt chart illustrating restrictions on movement and onjob sequence with respect to two installations; and

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a further embodiment ofthe present invention, where a worker doubles as a data collector, andcollects biological data on one's own body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a data collector 12 whoobserves a worker 11 doing a job in a darkroom 10 has a very smallinfrared video camera 14, an LCD device 15 and a microphone 16 on his orher head. The sensitivity of the video camera 14 is set at an infraredrange, i.e., a wavelength range from about 1000 nm to about 30,000 nm.The LCD device 15 is so positioned on the head that the data collector12 may look up at a screen of the LCD device 15. In order to preventleakage of back-light of the LCD display 15, the data collector 12 wearsa pair of darkroom goggles 17 over the LCD display 15. The darkroomgoggles 17 are well known in the art, and enable observing a faintoptical image as a light optical image, so the data collector 12 canobserve the job of the worker 11 in the darkroom 10.

To a forward protruding end of the darkroom goggle 17 is attached a workenvironment sensor 18 for measuring illuminance, noise, temperature,humidity and other environmental factors in the workplace. The datacollector 12 also has an earphone 19 on his or her ear. The infraredvideo camera 14, the LCD display 15, the microphone 16, the workenvironment sensor 18 and the earphone 19 are connected to a portablepersonal computer 20 with an image recording function. Besides, a handswitch board 21 and a biological sensor 22 are connected to thisportable personal computer 20. The data collector 12 carries theportable personal computer 20 on his or her shoulder.

The LCD display 15 displays pictures as photographed through theinfrared video camera 14 in a real time fashion, or a list of titles ofthe job to observe, and a clock. The microphone 16 is used for enteringunlisted job titles as sound signals. The earphone 19 is for listeningto acoustic responses from the portable personal computer 20 that isgenerated in response to some operations on the portable personalcomputer 20, e.g. an alarm.

The hand switch board 21 is provided with a pointing device for pointingone of the job titles listed on the LCD display 15 with a cursor, anenter key for entering the job title as selected by the cursor, and asignal input button for inputting a break point signal. Upon the signalinput button is operated, the break point signal is recorded along withvideo data of the photographed pictures on a hard disc of the portablepersonal computer 20. The break point signal is used as a cueing signalfor cueing up the head of each video data that corresponds to one job,so the break point signal is a sequential signal recognizable for videoplayers. For example, a mark or a sound that is recorded in the screenis used as the break point signal. Where the sound is used as the breakpoint signal, the break point signal may be entered through themicrophone 16.

The biological sensor 22 is an infrared sensor in this embodiment, thatmeasures body temperature of the worker 11. Because the body temperaturerises when the job is busy, the body temperature may be used as ameasure of workload on the worker. The workload affects the degree offatigue and the working efficiency of the worker.

In a light room, the data collector takes off the darkroom goggle 17,and replaces the infrared video camera 14 with a compact video camerawhose sensitivity is set at a wavelength range of visible rays (about400 nm to about 700 nm) for ordinary photography. In that case, the workenvironment sensor 18 is separated from the darkroom goggles 17, and isput on the head or another part of the data collector 12.

Now the operation of the first embodiment will be described withreference to the flow chart of FIG. 2. Prior to the observation, theobjects of the observation is specified, and the fineness of data toobserve and other parameters are predetermined. As concrete exemplary ofthe objects of the observation, there would be redesigning the workingprocess, or changing the number of workers disposed for the same job.Also the titles of jobs to observe are listed while defining the titlesand classifying them according to some definition, and the job titlelist is input in the portable personal computer 20 in advance.

The data collector 12 first puts the portable personal computer 20 onthe shoulder and the LCD display 15 on the head, and then puts on thedarkroom goggle 17. Thereby, the LCD display 15 is covered with thedarkroom goggle 17 in a light-tight fashion. Next, the data collector 12puts the infrared video camera 14 on the head and the earphone 19 on theear, and then turns on the portable personal computer 20. While holdingthe hand switch board 21 in the hand, the data collector 12 enters thedarkroom 10.

In the darkroom 10, the worker 11 is doing a series of different jobssuccessively, whereas the data collector 12 observes through thedarkroom goggle 17 the worker 11 doing the jobs, and starts photographyby the infrared video camera 14 before the worker 11 starts the seriesof jobs. Simultaneously with the start of the initial job of the series,the data collector 12 inputs a first break point signal by operating thesignal input button on the hand switch board 21.

Thereafter, the data collector 12 looks for the title of the jobphotographed at that time while having the job title list displayed onthe LCD display 15. When there is the corresponding job title in thelist, the data collector 12 operates the pointing device on the handswitch board 21 to place the cursor on that job title, and presses theenter key. Thus, the job title is recorded along with the video data onthe hard disc of the portable personal computer 20. In this way, thedata collector 12 photographs the jobs by the infrared video camera 14while inputting the break point signal and the job title at each breakpoint between the jobs, till all the jobs in the series are done. Amongthe break point signals, special signals may be used as the first andlast ones to represent the initial and final jobs of the seriesrespectively.

If the corresponding job title is not included in the job title list onthe LCD display 15, the job title is entered as a sound signal throughthe microphone 16 at the break point for that job. The portable personalcomputer 20 converts the sound signal representative of the job titleinto character data and stores the character data along with the videodata. As the infrared video camera 14 photographs the jobs, the workenvironment sensor 18 measures illuminance, noise, temperature andhumidity of the workplace, and enters the measured values in theportable personal computer 20. The biological sensor 11 feeds data ofthe body temperature of the worker 11 in the portable personal computer20.

In the light room, the infrared video camera 14 is replaced with theordinary compact video camera, the darkroom goggle 17 is taken off, andthe work environment sensor 18 is removed from the darkroom goggle 17and is put on the head of the data collector 12. Thereafter, the sameoperations are carried out as in the darkroom 10.

After the video data, the break point signals, the job title data, thework environment data, such as illuminance and noise, and the workloaddata are entered as work data with respect to all the jobs in oneseries, the portable personal computer 20 is connected through a cableto a personal computer 25 that is preset for data processing, and thework data is transferred from the portable personal computer 20 to thedata processing personal computer 25. The work data may be transferredthrough a removable memory media, e.g. DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) andRAM.

The data processing personal computer 25 is used for monitoring the workdata on a display 26, to correct or add necessary work data items. Byretrieving the break point signals, the work data may be quickly playedback at any break point between the jobs.

Since the time during which the infrared video camera 14 operates isrecorded along with the video data in the portable personal computer 20,the work time taken for each individual job may be calculated based onthe operation time of the infrared video camera 14. Thereafter, the workdata is transformed into graphs or tables on the display 26, so as tomake studies and analyses about the work data, e.g. about therelationship between the job content and the workload. If necessary, ahard copy of the work data is printed out through a printer 27.

It is possible to input the job titles in the data processing personalcomputer 25 after the photography is completed. In that case, the jobtitles may be entered in the data processing personal computer 25through a keyboard or a bar code reader that is connected to the dataprocessing personal computer 25 and is combined with a previouslyprepared bar code sheet having a plurality of bar codes representativeof the job titles. This configuration permits recording the job titleswhile monitoring the photographed pictures, so it is applicable to thosecases where there are a large number of different kinds of jobs, or thecontents of the jobs are difficult to recognize or discriminate, or itis difficult to select and enter the job title while observing the job,for example where the work time for the job is very short.

It is also possible to record the video data in an ordinary digitalvideo recorder instead of the portable personal computer. In that case,the break point signals are also recorded on the memory mediumincorporated into or attached to the digital video recorder.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment where a worker doubles as a work datacollector 30, and carries the same devices, including the infrared videocamera 14, the LCD display 15 and the portable personal computer 20, asthe data collector 12 in the first embodiment. In that case, a sensorfor measuring perspiration may be used as the biological sensor 22, inaddition to or instead of the body temperature sensor that is used formeasuring the body temperature of the worker or work data collector 30.

Where the data collector 12 is supposed to move around on a smallelectric car 32, a personal computer 35 installed in the car 32 may beused in place of the portable personal computer 20. It is possible tocarry a video camera with a higher performance on the car instead of thecompact video camera 14 on the head. It is also possible to use anautomatic vehicle that carries the personal computer and other machinesand moves along with the data collector 12. In the first and the presentand following embodiments, the data collector may collect the work datain those workplaces where a plurality of workers cooperate. Also, in thefollowing embodiments, the workers themselves can double as the workdata collectors, like in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment where the video camera is not utilized. Inthis embodiment, the data collector 12 observes the worker 11 doing thejob in the darkroom 10, and looks for the title of the job on the jobtitle list displayed on the LCD display 15. When the corresponding jobtitle is found in the list, the data collector 12 operates the handswitch board 21 to place the cursor on that job title, and presses theenter key. Thus, at the start of each job, the job title is recorded ona hard disc or another memory device of the portable personal computer20 along with start time data representative of the time of starting thejob.

At the conclusion of each job, the data collector 12 presses the enterkey while placing the cursor on the corresponding job title. Then, endtime data representative of the time of finishing the job is recordedalong with the job title on the memory device of the portable personalcomputer 20. Where a plurality of different kinds of jobs are to becarried out in succession, the sequence of doing the respective jobs ispreviously checked out, and the job title of the next job is entered atthe break point.

If the corresponding job title is not included in the job title list onthe LCD display 15, the job title is entered as a sound signal throughthe microphone 16. In the light room, the data collector 12 takes offthe darkroom goggle 17 and makes the same operation as in the darkroom10.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the data collector 12 uses asound recording player 40 in place of the portable personal computer 20.When the data collector 12 tells a job title to the microphone 16 at thestart and the end of one job, the job title is recorded on a memory ofthe sound recording player 40 along with the time when the job title isrecorded. The sound recording player 40 may displays the recorded timeon an LCD panel 41 when the sound recording player 40 plays back thevoice telling the corresponding job title.

After the job tiles of all jobs to observe are recorded in the soundrecording player 40 at respective break points between the jobs, anoperator enters job title data and break point time data in the dataprocessing personal computer 25 by use of previously prepared bar codesheets 43 and 44 and a bar code reader 45 that is connected to the dataprocessing personal computer 25. The bar code sheet 43 has bar codesrepresentative of different job titles, whereas the bar code sheet 44has bar codes for entering the time data. While playing back the soundrecording player 40 and listening to the job title from the speaker ofthe sound recording player 40, the operator enters the job title byscanning a corresponding one of the bar codes on the bar code sheet 43with the bar code reader 45. The operator also enters the break pointtime data by scanning those bar codes on the bar code sheet 44 with thebar code reader 45, which correspond to the job starting time displayedon the LCD panel 41.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the bar code sheet 44, that has bar codes 44a and 44 b for discriminating between the job starting time and the jobend time, bar codes 44 c, 44 d, 44 e, 44 f, 44 g, 44 h, 44 i, 44 j, 44 kand 44 l representative of numbers “1” to “9” respectively, and barcodes 44 m, 44 n and 44 o representative of “hour”, “minute” and“second” respectively. For instance, where the displayed time is“10:15:28”, and it represents a starting time of one job, the operatorfirst scans the bar code 44 a to label the time data as job startingtime data, and then seriatim scans the bar code 44 d, the bar code 44 cand the bar code 44 m to enter the hour “10”. Thereafter, the operatorscans the bar code 44 d, the bar code 44 h and the bar code 44 n toenter the minute “15”, and then scans the bar code 44 e, the bar code 44k and the bar code 44 o to enter the second “28”.

The bar code reader 45 may be a code-less type. In that case, data istransferred from the bar code reader 45 to the data processing personalcomputer 25 after the completion of scanning, by connecting the bar codereader 45 to the data processing personal computer 25 through a cable,or by use of infrared communication. It is also possible to use a signalcollector that is previously connected to the data processing personalcomputer 25, and reads the work data from the bar code reader 45automatically or upon a button operation when the bar code reader 45 isput on the signal connector, to transfer the work data to the dataprocessing personal computer 25.

Instead of using the bar code sheet, it is possible to display the jobtitles on the display 22 of the data processing personal computer 25,for selecting appropriate ones from these job titles by means of a touchpanel device or through the keyboard connected to the data processingpersonal computer 25. The same data collecting method as shown in FIG. 6is applicable to work data collection in the light room, though the datacollector does not use the darkroom goggles 17 in the light room.

It is alternatively possible to use different data collection methodsfor the darkroom and the light room. That is, work data is collected inthe darkroom according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, using thesound recording player 40. In the light room, on the other hand, thedata collector scans appropriate bar codes on the bar code sheet 43 ateach break point between the jobs while observing the jobs. In thatcase, the bar code reader has a built-in clock, so the time when the barcode is scanned is recorded along with the corresponding work data.Thereby, the work data collected in the light room is transferred fromthe bar code reader to the data processing personal computer 25 througha connection wire or cable, infrared communication or the signalcollecting device. So the labor for entering the work data in the dataprocessing personal computer 25 is reduced as for the data collected inthe light room.

In a further embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 8, the workdata is collected in through a sound recording player 50 in the same wayas described with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, but thesound recording player 50 is connected to the data processing personalcomputer 25 through a cable, to transfer the voice data of the jobtitles and the time data of the break points to the data processingpersonal computer 25. The transferred voice data is converted intocharacter data through an appropriate function that is provided in thedata processing personal computer 25, e.g. an application package. Thismethod is used for the light room. It is possible to transfer the datafrom the sound recording player 50 to the data processing personalcomputer 25 through infrared communication or other device than thecable.

According to another embodiment a portable personal computer with aninteractive voice response system is used, wherein the data collectorsays a job title “X” to a microphone, then the portable personalcomputer retrieves the job title “X” from a job title list that isentered previously. If there is the job title “X” in the job title list,the portable personal computer repeats the job title “X”. The datacollector listens to the repeated voice from the portable personalcomputer through an earphone. When the data collector answers “YES”reply to the repeated voice at the start of each job, the job title isrecorded as character data in a memory device of the portable personalcomputer, and the time when the job title “X” is recorded isconcurrently recorded as time data of a break point.

If the said job title “X” is not registered in the job title list, theportable personal computer responds “The job title X is unlisted.Register the job title X ?” through the earphone. If the data collectorsays “YES” in reply, the job title “X” is added to the job title list.Thereafter when the data collector says the job title “X” again, theportable personal computer repeats the job title “X” then, so the datacollector may answer “YES” at the start of that job, to let the personalcomputer store the job title “X” in the memory device along with thetime data of that break point. Since the job titles are recorded afterbeing confirmed in this embodiment, data input error is prevented. Thesame method is applicable to collecting work data in the light room.Because this embodiment may be illustrated approximately equivalently toFIG. 1, this embodiment is not illustrated in the drawings.

In an alternative, the data collector says a job title to record the jobtitle in the sound recording player through the microphone, andthereafter turns on a voice switch of a voice clock at a break pointbetween the jobs, to cause the voice clock to generate a voice sayingthe time of that break point, for recording the voice from the voiceclock in the sound recording player through the microphone. It ispossible to record the time of the break point prior to the job title.

Next, an embodiment shown in FIG. 9 will be described. In thisembodiment, a worker 11 is equipped with more than one biologicalsensor, i.e. three biological sensors 63, 64 and 65 on the head, on theback of his or her hand and on the hip in the illustrated example.Output signals from the biological sensors 63 to 65 are entered througha radio communication device 66, e.g. a blue tooth, into a portablepersonal computer 20. In that case, the portable personal computer 20 isequipped with a counterpart radio communication device to the radiocommunication device 66.

On the other hand, a data collector 12 to observe the worker 11 doingjobs has a work environment sensor 18, a very small video camera 69 anda goggle 70 on his or her head in a work area 68. An LCD display 15 ismounted inside the goggle 70, such that the data collector can look upthe screen of the LCD display 15. The work environment sensor 18 may beput on the worker 11 or disposed on any appropriate locations in thework area 68, besides the data collector 12. In that case, the workenvironment sensor 18 remote from the data collector 12 is connectedthrough a communication device to the portable personal computer 20.Like or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numbersas used in the above embodiments, and the description of these elementsare omitted.

For example, the biological sensors 63 to 65 are acceleration sensorsthat quantitatively determine the degree of workload on the basis ofmovements or physical displacements of the worker's head, hand and hip.Although the worker puts on only three biological sensors in theembodiment of FIG. 9, this is only for the sake of simplifying theexplanation and the illustration. In practice, it is desirable for theworker to put as many biological sensors as possible on his or her body,e.g. on the shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle and so forth.

Besides the acceleration sensors, the biological sensors may bewell-known gyroscopes or relative position sensors that use magneticwave or electronic wave. A magnetic sensor for detecting relativepositions of respective portions of the worker's body, or illuminationsensor for measuring illuminance of the field of view may also be usedas the biological sensor. According to the purpose, it is possible touse a sensor for measuring myogenic potential, pulses, heart beats, orbrain wave. Besides the illuminance sensor, it is possible to use atemperature sensor, humidity sensor, gas density sensor or sound volumesensor. As for the infrared sensor that measures the body temperature,it is carried by the data collector to measure the body temperature ofthe remote worker. To measure the body temperature at different portionsof the worker, a plurality of thermometers are put on the respectiveportions of the worker.

As the biological sensor, it is also possible to put a CCD camera with asuper wide angle lens on the top of the worker while directing thecamera upward, to calculate the direction of movement of the worker'shead and the change of the direction quantitatively on the basis ofimage data picked up through the CCD camera. By use of data from theacceleration sensors on the worker's hand, leg and corporal portion, anddata from a sensor detecting distances between these accelerationsensors, it is possible to obtain data showing the movement of theworker's body as a total, the movement of the worker's hands, themovement of the worker's legs, and which portions of the worker's bodyare overused.

It is known in the art that the number of blinks and winks of theworker, the movement of the eyeballs, the variation in worker'sexpression, the amount of movement of worker's gaze, and variation inbrightness in the direction the worker is looking may be used asproperties representative of worker's thinking and attention.Accordingly, it is possible to quantify data of these representativeproperties by photographing worker's face through a video camera.

It is also possible to provide specific marks on worker's hand, work,note book or the like, for recording whether these marks are included indesignated positions in the image screen that corresponds to the fieldof view of the worker. Thereby, it becomes possible to record thefrequency of worker's movements to look at a range around his or herhand during the respective job.

Furthermore, by providing sound volume sensors on worker's head and inthe vicinity of worker's mouth, it is possible to obtain data ofworker's voice and ambient sounds separately from each other, and checkif any conversation is always held in the job. It is preferable to usesuch a data input device for the biological sensors that permitsobtaining data from the worker without the need for contact with theworker, in view of the advantages that such sensors are easy to put onand take off, that data becomes less dependent on the wearing conditionsof the sensors, and that mental pressure on the worker or invasion ofworker's privacy from wearing the sensors are reduced. It is possible touse these non-contact type sensors in combination with contact typesensors, such as the myogenic potential sensor.

Data from the biological sensors 63 to 65 is stored in the hard disc ofthe portable personal computer 20 as attribution data for the respectivejobs which are sectioned by the break point signals. It is possible topreviously define judgement logic for comparison with threshold valuesand patterns that represent the degree and characteristics of the load,and stores the judgement data concurrently with the storage. Forexample, a preliminary observation is carried out once without settingany time limit for each job, and maximum values of the data obtainedfrom the biological sensors on the respective jobs are defined to be thethreshold values. If the data obtained in the observation on the actualjob goes above the threshold value of that job, judgement data may bestored showing that the time limit for that job results a higherworkload.

Now the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 will be describedwith reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10.

Prior to the observation, the objects of the observation is specified,and the fineness of data to observe and other parameters arepredetermined. As concrete exemplary of the objects of the observation,there would be redesigning the working process, or changing the numberof workers disposed for the same job. Also the titles of jobs to observeare listed while defining the titles and classifying them according tosome definition, and the job title list is input in the portablepersonal computer 20 in advance. In addition, according to the purposeof the analysis, it is determined what kinds of biological sensors andenvironment sensors should be used, what the purpose of obtaining thedata, how much sensors should be placed in which locations, and how toprocess the data, and the portable personal computer 20 is presetcorrespondingly.

The data collector 12 first puts the portable personal computer 20 onthe shoulder and the LCD display 15 on the head, and then puts on thedarkroom goggle 17. Thereby, the LCD display 15 is covered with thedarkroom goggle 17 in a light-tight fashion. Next, the data collector 12puts the infrared video camera 14 on the head and the earphone 19 on theear, and then turns on the portable personal computer 20. While holdingthe hand switch board 21 in the hand, the data collector 12 enters thedarkroom 10.

The data collector 12 observes the worker 11 doing a series of differentkinds of jobs, and starts photography by the video camera 69 before theworker 11 starts the series of jobs. Simultaneously with the start ofthe initial job of the series, the data collector 12 inputs a firstbreak point signal by operating a signal input button on a hand switchboard 21.

Thereafter, the data collector 12 looks for the title of the jobphotographed at that time while having the job title list displayed onthe LCD display 15. When there is the corresponding job title in thelist, the data collector 12 operates the pointing device on the handswitch board 21 to place the cursor on that job title, and presses theenter key. Thus, the job title is recorded along with the video data onthe hard disc of the portable personal computer 20. In this way, thedata collector 12 photographs the jobs by the infrared video camera 14while inputting the break point signal and the job title at each breakpoint between the jobs, till all the jobs in the series are done.

If the corresponding job title is not included in the job title list onthe LCD display 15, the job title is entered as a sound signal through amicrophone 16 at the break point for that job. The portable personalcomputer 20 converts the sound signal representative of the job titleinto character data and stores the character data along with the videodata. As the video camera 69 photographs the jobs, the work environmentsensor 18 measures illuminance, noise, temperature and humidity of theworkplace, and enters the measured values in the portable personalcomputer 20. The biological sensors 63 to 65 supply the portablepersonal computer 20 with data of the body temperature of the worker 11,data of movements of the worker's head, hand and hip, and data obtainedthrough the load judgement logic.

As exemplary of the workload data, temperature data detected through aninfrared sensor includes prime data a and β, as shown in FIG. 11, bothshowing changes in worker's body temperature with time during a job “A”,but measured under different conditions, e.g. a large restriction ontime is imposed in one case, whereas the time restriction is not so hardin the other case. The temperature data also include prime data thatshow changes in worker's body temperature with time during each ofdifferent jobs A, B, C and D, as shown in FIG. 12. As for the data ofrelative positions of the respective body portions, that is detected forexample through a magnetic sensor, or the data of displacement of therespective body portions, that is detected through the accelerationsensors, prime data representative of amounts of displacement in a timesection for each job, e.g. variations in position and inclination tofront, rear, left, right, up and down, and mean values and maximumvalues of the displacements are stored. Where the workload data isilluminance data in the direction of view field, prime datarepresentative of changes in illuminance with time during eachindividual job and mean values as well as maximum values are stored. Ifa sensor measuring the blinks and winks or the movement of the eyeballsthrough a camera is used as the biological sensor, variations inblinking timing, in the number of blinks and in the time interval ofblinks during each job are stored as workload data.

After the completion of the observation on the jobs, the portablepersonal computer 20 is connected through a cable to a personal computer25 for data processing, for transferring the work data from the portablepersonal computer 20 to the data processing personal computer 25. Thework data may be transferred through a removable memory media, e.g. DVDor RAM. The data processing personal computer 25 transforms the workdata into graphs or tables and displays the graph or table on thedisplay 26, so as to make studies and analyses about the work time andworkload for each job. If necessary, a hard copy of the work data isprinted out through a printer 27.

For analysis of the work data, the work data is tallied up for therespective jobs in a process, and the content of each job is analyzed.In the analysis for each job, it is usual for the analysis with the jobtitle and time to use tables in which a mean time, a total time and aratio to the total time are obtained for each job title, and a Paretodiagram in which the job titles are arranged in a sequence from thelongest total time, as shown in FIG. 13. By displaying a graph showingthe workload data, as shown in FIG. 14, in addition to the graph of FIG.13, it is possible to show characteristics of the process and getpriorities right for improvement in working conditions with respect toeach job. According to the example shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the jobtitled “A” is largely affected by the time restriction, and theilluminance in the direction of the view field is high for a longesttime in this job. That is, the job “A” is to input data while staring ina CRT display with a relatively high brightness, and thus the workloadis very high. On the contrary, the job “B” is not largely affected bythe time restriction, and the total work time is short, through theilluminance in the direction of the view field is high. Therefore, theworkload of the job “B” in total may be considered to be relatively low.

For analysis of job sharing and timing, it is usual to display thecontents of jobs in a time sequential fashion in the form of aman-machine chart or Gantt chart, as shown in FIG. 15. By displaying achart showing the workload data obtained by the length of highilluminance time period in the view field direction, as shown in FIG.16, in addition to the Gantt chart, it is possible to show theviewpoints for improvement in the job sequence and shares. In thesecharts, the time is the work time, and the total work time is 8 hours inthis instance.

According to the data analysis based on the charts shown in FIGS. 15 and16, a worker W1 does a constant speed job, a job to be done at anapproximately constant speed, in a process with heavy restriction oftime, so the workload is highly dependent upon time. Since the highilluminant time in the view field direction is short, the worker'sattention or carefulness is also dependent upon time. On the other hand,a worker W2 is less affected by the time restriction, but the workloadon the eyes may be judged to be large in view of the data of illuminancein the view field direction. The worker W2 is presumed to be in chargeof a job that requires the worker to stare in a bright object, like adisplay or an inspection box (Schaukasten).

Furthermore, by entering those data in the PERT (Program Evolution AndReview Technique) software that represents restrictions applied byinstallations onto the movement and the sequence of jobs, so as todisplay workload conditions in combination, as shown in FIG. 17, it ispossible to provide a Gantt chart showing the offset in work time or inworkload as the results of job allocation in the process. In FIG. 17,hatched sections 75 represent jobs with relatively high workload, dottedsections 76 represent jobs with relatively low workload, and blanksections 77 represent standby state.

In the illustrated example, the worker W1, W2 and W3 do the respectivejobs in an installation E during the first two third and more of a totalwork time T1, and then in another installation F almost during the lastone third of the total work time T1. The worker W1 is busy workingthrough the total work time T1. The worker W2 is in the standby state inthe first half of the total work time T1, and starts a job with a lowworkload from the last half of the job in the installation E, and getsbusy after shifting to the job in the installation F, but comes into thestandby state in the last half of the job in the installation F. Theworker W3 is in an easy condition with the standby state and the easyjob during the job in the illustration A, but gets busy immediatelybefore shifting to the installation F, and then comes to the standbystate in the last half of the job in the installation F. In view of thissituation, it is easy to think of an improvement that the worker W2 andW3 whose workloads have been very low can share the job of the worker W1at least in the first half of the total work time T1. In this example,the total work time T1 is one hour.

By use of the workload data and dividing the jobs into several segments,it is also possible to express the characteristics of the process by thenumber of jobs and the total time in each segment. For example,standards for discrimination between large, middle and small values ofthe workload data about each job are determined to sort the data foreach job. It is also possible to divide the data into segments bycombining the data with one another, or rank the jobs by use of totalindexes that are obtained by weighting the load data. Analyzing the jobin this way makes it easy to find out those jobs which should beinspected and improved.

The following Table 1 shows the ranking of jobs P, Q, R and S in view ofthe workload, along with the work time ratio and the frequency. Table 2and Table 3 show the work time ratio and the frequency of the workloadsof the respective ranks, with respect to different workers W1 and W2.TABLE 1 JOB P Q R S INFLUENCE OF LARGE LARGE MIDDLE MIDDLE TIMERESTRICTION LOAD ON EYES LARGE MIDDLE MIDDLE SMALL MOVEMENT OF LARGEMIDDLE MIDDLE MIDDLE EYEBALLS MOVEMENT OF SMALL LARGE MIDDLE MIDDLEWORKER MOVEMENT OF LARGE LARGE MIDDLE SMALL WORKER'S HAND WORK TIME 10090 50 40 FREQUENCY 4 2 7 3 TOTAL INDEX 90 40 35 15

TABLE 2 [WORKER W1] INFLUENCE OF TIME RESTRICTION LARGE MIDDLE SMALLLOAD ON EYES L M S L M S L M S WORK TIME 100 80 60 50 250 300 30 500 600FREQUENCY 2 4 2 5 25 10 20 50 60

TABLE 3 [WORKER W2] INFLUENCE OF TIME RESTRICTION LARGE MIDDLE SMALLLOAD ON EYES L M S L M S L M S WORK TIME 0 60 60 10 50 30 10 900 600FREQUENCY 0 1 2 5 25 10 20 10 60

In this way, characteristics of the job may be compared and analyzedwith respect to each process or with respect to each worker, for thesake of distributing or equalizing the workload on the workers, orexamining how to assign the jobs to the workers according to theirskills, or setting goals for improvement in job quality.

For instance, because the data is previously sectioned by each job inTable 1, it is easy to pick up only those data which relate to the aimedjob from among the data of all jobs. If there are a plurality of datapieces for the same job title, these data pieces may be compared to eachother or tallied up. For example, for such job where the workload varyat each execution, it becomes possible to restructure the job proceduresto stabilize the workload.

As for those jobs which are determined to be aimed at by the statisticanalysis of the data on the above all jobs, more detailed analysis ofthe data on each of these jobs is useful for examining the object. Forexample, as for the job P in Table 1, the starting time, the endingtime, the requisite time duration, changes or progresses in movements ofrespective portions of the worker's body, direction of the movements,mean values and maximum values of the moved amounts, changes with timein illuminance in the view field direction, a mean value and a maximumvalue of the illuminance, changes with time in body temperature in theview field direction, a mean value and a maximum value of the bodytemperature, and other data are shown in a lookup table. Based on thelookup table, it is possible to analyze how the workloads in the job Paffect the worker, and find out necessary points for improvements in thefacilities or in the working method, including job collaboration.

Specifically, it becomes possible to eliminate, combine, rearrange andsimplify the jobs by optimizing load allocation during the work time andamong respective workers in a collective work, by optimizing joballocation to unskilled workers, by extracting problems in calculatingwages per unit job, in frequency of the workload, and in the progress ofthe workload with time, and by applying such viewpoints for improvementthat is a kind of Industrial Engineering (IE) to examining theworkloads.

FIG. 18 shows a modification of the embodiment as set forth above withreference to FIGS. 9 to 17, wherein the data collector is not disposedin the work area 68, but a worker doubles as a data collector 30,carrying the video camera 69, the biological sensors 63 to 65 and otherdevices necessary for data collection on his or her own body. Thisembodiment contributes to saving labor for data collection.

Although the break point signal is entered by means of the hand switchboard in the above embodiment, it is possible to predetermine the breakpoint as a time when a particular mark comes in the view field, or by aparticular sound from an installation during the process, so that thebreak point signal may be automatically entered. This embodiment allowsto substitute a robot or the like for the data collector 12.

It is not always necessary to actuate the environment sensor and thebiological sensors in cooperation with the video camera, but thesesensors may operate independently. Although the workload is measuredthrough the biological sensor in the above embodiments, the datacollector may judge the degree of the workload on the worker from theobservation, and input the degree of the workload through an appropriatedata input device, such as a bar code reader in the workplace or whileobserving the photographed video pictures afterward. In the latter case,another person may judge the degree of the workload instead of the datacollector.

As the video camera for the darkroom, a high-sensitive video camera likean image intensifier camera is usable instead of the infrared videocamera. By attaching a special filter that changes the sensitivewavelength range of the video camera, or by using a special video camerathat may switch the sensitive range between the infrared range and thevisible light range, the same video camera may be used both for thedarkroom and the light room.

In the above embodiments, the memory medium of the sound recordingplayer is a high-speed accessible memory. But a hard disc or a recordingtape or MD (Mini Disc) is usable instead. The present invention isapplicable to those cases where the worker deals with chemical productsor the like, if only the portable personal computer or sound recordingplayer and other apparatuses as used in the darkroom in the aboveembodiments are provided with waterproof functions. The presentinvention is applicable not only to the above described observation onworking conditions, but also to recording and analyzing the presentconditions or modifications of the equipment in a darkroom. It is alsopossible to apply the present invention to worker's daily report,recording of worker's movement, recording and analyzing a conference ormeeting.

1. A work data collection method comprising the steps of: photographingthrough a video camera a series of different jobs done by at least aworker, to record video signal of said jobs on a memory device of saidvideo camera; inputting a break point signal in said video camera ateach break point between said jobs, to record said break point signal onsaid memory device of said video camera along with said video signal;and displaying a list of titles of said jobs along with a clock.
 2. Awork data collection method as recited in claim 1, further comprisingthe step of: displaying pictures photographed through the video camerain a real time fashion along with the clock.
 3. A work data collectionmethod comprising the steps of: photographing through a video camera aseries of different jobs done by at least a worker, to record videosignal of said jobs on a memory device of said video camera; inputting abreak point signal in said video camera at each break point between saidjobs, to record said break point signal on said memory device of saidvideo camera along with said video signal; and using a camera with asuper wide angle lens directed upward, to calculate a direction ofmovement of said worker's head, and a change of the direction on thebasis of image data picked up through said camera.
 4. A work datacollection method as recited in claim 3, wherein said camera is fixed tothe top of said worker.
 5. A work data collection method as recited inclaim 3, wherein an infrared video camera is used as said camera atphotography in a dark room, and a video camera whose sensitivity is setat a wavelength range of visible rays is used as the camera atphotography in a light room.